Kentucky WBB '23-24 Season Recap, Pt. 3: A slow start to SEC play

After Kentucky women’s basketball started the 2023-24 season by going 7-7 in the non-conference, the Wildcats kicked off SEC action with a bang: a win over Arkansas at home. Little did they know, wins in the conference would not come easy.

In fact, Kentucky only won four games during regular-season SEC play.

In part three of KSR’s four-part season recap series, we’re focusing on Kentucky’s performance throughout the first half of the SEC schedule in which the ‘Cats went 2-7. You can read up on the first two parts here and here. Part four will be published on Wednesday.

(H) Arkansas: W, 73-63

In one of Kentucky’s best games of the season, the ‘Cats held the Razorbacks to only 14 points in the first half. As a whole, Kentucky shot 28-63 (44%) but didn’t make a three-pointer all game. Ajae Petty, Brooklynn Miles, and Emma King were the only three Wildcats in double digits with 22, 12, and 10 points, respectively. As a unit, Kentucky outrebounded Arkansas, 46-38, and held them to 21-63 (33%) from the field.

Arkansas finished their season 18-14 (6-10 SEC) and 1-1 against Kentucky. The Razorbacks were ranked No. 10 in the SEC.

(A) Tennessee: L, 87-69

In Kentucky’s first matchup against Tennessee, it became clear that the ‘Cats would be consistently outmatched against SEC teams. While Kentucky fought a good fight in the first half, outscoring the Vols 49-39, the ‘Cats were unable to hold on to their double-digit lead for the remainder of the game. Eniya Russell, Petty, and Maddie Scherr ran the show with 16, 14, and 13 points respectively. Saniah Tyler also finished in double digits with 10 points on 4-7 from the field, including 2-2 from three. The Vols outrebounded Kentucky 43-36 and finished with 48 points in the paint.

Tennessee finished their season 19-12 (16-10 SEC) and recently fell to South Carolina 74-73 thanks to a last-second three-pointer by Kamilla Cardoso. Tennessee was ranked No. 5 in the SEC.

(H) Vanderbilt: L, 95-73

Coming off their loss to Tennessee, Kentucky’s performance against Vanderbilt was everything we expected. The Commodores led by double-digits from the first quarter on, even though Kentucky kept up with them in the second quarter, scoring 21 points apiece. Petty and Scherr made it to the 20-point club with 23 and 20 points, respectively. Petty also finished with 21 rebounds, 66% of her team’s total 32. However, the ‘Cats went 5-19 from the perimeter. While inefficient, it was nice to see Kentucky make more than a couple of three-pointers in a single game.

Vanderbilt finished their season No. 6 in the SEC with a record of 22-9 (9-7 SEC) and was upset against Florida in the SEC Tournament, 62-59.

(A) South Carolina: L, 98-36

Yes, you read that score right. Even in a 62-point loss, South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley showed “mercy” to Kentucky. While Staley’s squad could’ve easily surpassed 100 points in her home arena, she forced her team to run down the shot clock and turn over the ball on their last possession of the game.

At first, it looked like Kentucky might’ve had a chance. I say “chance” very, very lightly, and only because the score was 17-13, Gamecocks, after the first quarter. Even though Tyler scored 13 points, it didn’t push Kentucky any closer than a 62-point deficit against the No. 1 team in the nation. Petty finished with only two points and five rebounds, given that Kentucky was severely undersized against the pure-SEC team.

South Carolina is currently undefeated, 32-0 (16-0 SEC), and is ranked No. 1 in the nation going into the NCAA Tournament. USC was the champion of the SEC Tournament for the fourth time in five seasons. The only other winner was Kentucky, by the way.

(H) Missouri: W, 76-71

After a three-game losing streak, Kentucky finally picked up SEC win number two. This time, the Missouri Tigers came to Rupp Arena. However, this win wasn’t even that impressive, considering Missouri finished dead last in the SEC. But, a win is a win.

With four players in double-digits, it would seem like Kentucky dominated this game. Russell had 20 points while Scherr, Petty, and Tyler weren’t far behind in the scoring column. However, domination wasn’t the case. Kentucky started the first quarter down on the Tigers, 20-16. In the second quarter, the ‘Cats turned up the heat and outscored Missouri 22-12. If it weren’t for the double-digit difference in the second quarter, though, Kentucky probably would’ve lost. Especially considering they only outscored Missouri by one in the entire second half.

Missouri finished its season 11-19 (2-14 SEC) and only defeated Georgia and Vanderbilt early on in SEC play.

(A) Arkansas: L, 88-61

Kentucky met Arkansas for the second time this season, but this time on the Razorbacks’ home turf. Despite beating Arkansas in their SEC opener, the ‘Cats couldn’t recreate their success only three weeks later. Kentucky was outscored 44-23 in the first half alone and wasn’t able to recover from the double-digit deficit.

Russell (20) and Amiya Jenkins (11) were the only ‘Cats in double-figures. Although Petty finished with 16 rebounds, she only contributed six points to her team’s final score. Kentucky shot 24-65 (37%) from the field and only 3-14 (21%) from the perimeter.

(A) Alabama: L, 91-74

For their second away game in a row, the ‘Cats traveled outside of Lexington, this time to Tuscaloosa to take on the Alabama Crimson Tide. Once again, Kentucky showed potential to keep up with a good SEC squad, outscoring Alabama 20-16 in the first quarter. Unfortunately, in true Kentucky fashion, the ‘Cats couldn’t keep their lead in the second quarter and went down 10 at the half.

With five players in double-digits, however, it seemed like the game should’ve been a lot closer than what it was. Especially since Kentucky made nine of their three-pointers. But, Petty was undersized in the paint and was unable to contribute any more than two points for her team. Petty was also unable to contain Alabama’s Essence Cody, who scored 14. The Crimson Tide’s Sarah Ashlee Barker was the star of the show and scored 34 on the ‘Cats.

Alabama finished its season 23-9 (10-6 SEC) and was ranked No. 4 in the SEC.

(H) Mississippi State: L, 77-74 OT

In a heart-wrenching overtime loss to Mississippi State, Kentucky played pretty decent all-around. Despite being outscored 29-22 in the first half, Kentucky flipped a switch in the second, outscoring Mississippi State 44-37 and holding a decent lead down the stretch. In overtime, however, the ‘Cats couldn’t hold on, and lost by three.

Kentucky stayed pretty close on the boards, only being outrebounded 43-39, and had four players in double-digits: Scherr (19), Russell (15), Tyler (14), and Petty (11).

Mississippi State finished 21-11 (8-8 SEC) and was ranked No. 7 in the conference.

(A) Georgia: L, 62-65

An away game against the Georgia Bulldogs seemed like the only game Kentucky could win for the remainder of the season. Unfortunately, the ‘Cats blew a 15-point lead in the first quarter and lost by seven. It’s kind of hard to win when you’re outperformed on the boards, 43-23, and commit 24 fouls. Those 24 fouls resulted in 19 points from the free-throw line for Georgia, whereas Kentucky only had 13. Petty finished with a whopping 25 points, but with only five rebounds, while Tyler finished with 18 points on 6-7 from the field, including 4-4 from three.

Georgia finished their season 12-18 (3-13 SEC) and was actually ranked one spot below Kentucky in the conference at No. 13.